Adjustable window-shade support.



PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

No. 768,706. v

J. A. THAIN. ADJUSTABLE WINDOW SHADE SUPPORT.

INVENTOR. I BY Jomyfififidzam APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

W] T [VESSES m AYTORNEK Patented August 30, 1904.

PATENT @FFICE.

JOSEPH ANDREN THAIN,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ADJUSTABLE WINDOW-SHADE SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,706, dated August 30, 1904.

Application filed October 8, 1903.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH ANDREN THAIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable VVindoW Shade Supports, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to window-shades, and has particular reference to means for supporting the shade-roller in different positions or altitudes with reference to the windowframe.

The object of my invention is to simplify and improve the operation of adjustable brackets which support shade-rollers to the end of reducing the number of parts, seating the brackets more steadily, avoiding a clumsy appearance, and exposing the guidegrooves, as well as so much of the brackets as engage said grooves,securing rigidity and permanency in the bracket itself by making it in a single piece of metal to avoid marring the exposed edges of the window stops or strips.

Another and a particular object of the invention is to provide adjustable brackets adapted to be mounted in ordinary window frames and stops with the aid of simple tools and substantially without changing the appearance of the parts to which the brackets are applied, thereby overcoming one of the most serious objections to devices for this purpose heretofore employed.

The invention consists in the novel details of construction and subordinate parts adapted to carry out the above-mentioned improvements hereinafter fully described in detail, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view representing a window and frame and a shade equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view representing a horizontal section through the window and frame with brackets embodying my invention in place, the shade being shown partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a still further enlarged perspectiveview of one of the brackets. Fig. 4: is a similar view representing the other bracket. Figs. 5 and SerialNo. 176,187. (No model.)

6 represent the grooved pulleys for the supporting-cords, and Fig. 7 a fastener for the cord or cords.

Referring to the drawings, 2 represents the window-frame, to the side pieces 3 of which are fastened the stops 4 by means of screws 5 or other suitable means. Each of said stops has a rabbet e and a kerf 19 out therein.

6 represents one of the window-sashes, and 7 the blind-stops, which form no part of my invention.

8 8 are the brackets for respectively the spring and fixed spindles 9 and 9' of the shaderoller 10.

11 and 11 are the brackets substantially alike, except that they are partly bent in opposite directions for the right and left hand sides of the frame and have differently-formed apertures. The bracket 11 is provided with a circular aperture 12, communicating with a downwardly-extending slot 13, terminating in a slot 14:, closed in a vertical direction and opening laterally into the slot 13. The bracket 11 is provided with a wedge slot 14, narrower at the bottom than at the top, so as to securely hold the squared or flattened end of the spring-spindle 9, attached to the usual spiral spring, within the shade-roller. (Not shown.)

15 15 are eyes or holes in the upper ends of the brackets 11 11, in which the ends of the cords 16 16' are fastened after passing over pulleys 17 17, secured to the inner faces of the vertical portions of the frame 2. Each of the brackets 11 11 is bent three times substantially at right angles and one of the outer Wings thus formed bent upon itself, forming a rib or groove key 18, with a smooth, rounded edge 18, adapted to freely slide in a slot 19 in the inner face of each of the stops 4:. The pulleys 17 17 are mounted between the ends 20 20 of the bent plates 21 21, which are preferably constructed out of sheet metal and riveted together.

22 is a concave disk mounted upon a screw 23, fastened to the window-casing, and same serves as an anchorage for the cords. The details of construction of the latter are immaterial, as they form no part of my invention,

and any other suitable fastening for the cord may be provided.

21: 24.- represent screw-holes for fastening the pulley bearings '01 plates to the windowcasing.

The pulley 17 is a double onc that is. pro vided with two grooves, one for each cord 16 and 1 b wvhile the pulley 17 is a single-groove pulley for the cord 16 only.

M y invention is applied and operated as fol lows: The pulley 17 fastened near the upper left-hand corner of the frame 2. A narrow slit or kerf may be made in the upper horizontal 'frameaiiece for the upper edge of the mlloy-plate 21 and the lower edge fastened with a screw, or both edges may be screwed fast, as may be preferred. The pulley 17 is secured in like manner at the upper right-hand corner and cords 16 16 passed over the pulleys, as shown in Fig. 1. All that is necessary to provide a slideway for the brackets 8 8' is to remove the stops 4 and. cut away a part of the inner portion near the outer edge of each with the use of an ordinary rabbet-plane and make a slightly-dee 'ier cut or saw-kerf for the groove-key or flange 18, which leaves the exterior appearance of the stops 4c practically unchanged. The brackets are then placed in position shown in Fig. 2 and the strip or stop 4 nailed or screwed back to its former place. The ends of the cords depending from the pulleys are then fastened through the apertures 15 and the opposite ends anchored on the fastener 22.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be observed that the stops at have their usual appearance after my invention is applied. It will also be noted that the portion of the bracket which is between the stop and the frame is held steadily against lateral movement or instability in a horizontal plane, which would permit the usual curtain-spimlles to be disengaged from the brackets, and each of the latter being a single piece of metal there are no parts liable to become loose and disarrange the device. Furthermore, the brackets al ways appear like ordinary brackets fastened with screws or nails, with the advantage of presenting no unsightly screw or nail heads. Their means of engagement with the frame are entirely coliicealcd. A still further advantage gained by my invention is the fact that the part of the bracket between the stop and frame may be made as long as desired and the rabbet of corresponding width without thereby increasing the amount of metal presented to view, whereby absolute stability against detrimental lateral movement may be attained without sacrificing thereby anything in appearance. The blunt rounded edge 18, formed by bending the metal upon itself, insures a smooth operation. of the key or iiange 18 in the groove provided therefor. Another distinct advantage in providing a construction wherein the part of the bracket held between the stop and frame is concealed is that said part may be made as long as de sired to the end of attaining a smooth operation without also increasing the proportions of the exposed part of the bracket, which may consequently be made shorter, if desired, or of such size as to secure the neatest possible appearance.

Referring to the apertures in the brackets for the curtain-spindles, the wedge-like aperture 1 1 is of usual configuration and is adapted to hold the spring-spindle firmly, while the usual apertures for the rotating spindle fixed in the curtain-roller permit free movement of the latter upwardly, which oftentimes results in its springing out of place. To provide against this,I have provided the novel construction of aperture represented by numerals 12, 13, and 14, which prevents accidental displacement of the spindle. Each of the brackets being made of a single piece of metal and. dependent for its engagement with the frame upon the wing between the latter and the stop permits any suitable extension of the intermediate portion of the bracket to accommodate it to slight variations in the lengths of curtain-rollers, and the bracket may also be bent slightly one way or the other for the same purpose because of its flexibility. There being no complicated multiplicity of parts to assemble, my invention may very readily be installed by others than skilled mechanics, and its cheapness makes it available as a sul stitute in every residence for the ordinary fixed curtain-brackets.

It is obvious from the foregoing suggestions that modifications may be made in the minor details of my device without departing from the spirit of my invention, which I therefore do not-wish to confine to the specific construction herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to securel y Letters Patent 1. In an adjustable window-shade support, the combination with a window-frame and grooved stop, of an apertured bracket consisting of a plate of metal having a thickness slightly less than the depth of the groove in said stop and provided with a flange for holding said bracket for sliding vertical movement between said frame and stop.

2. In an adjustable window-shade support, the combination with a window-frame, of a stop upon said frame having a rabbet and a groove cut therein in its side facing the frame, and a ribbed and apcrturcd bracket consisting of a single piece of metal having a thickness slightly less than the depth of said rabbet slid able between said frame and stop with said rib engaging said groove.

3. In a window-shade support, the combination with a window-franiie having a stop with a groove therein, of a flanged bracket consisting of a single piece of metal having a In testimony whereof I have hereunto set thickness slightly less than the depth of said my hand in the presence of two subscribing groove, the latter forming a guideway be- Witnesses.

tween said frame and stop for said bracket, JOSEPH ANDREN THAIN. 5 the flange of the latter being substantially 'Witnesses:

concealed by the Woodwork of said WindoW- WM. M. KINGSLEY,

frame. H. B. HOFFMAN. 

